Understanding Elon Musk's Involvement with DOGE, According to Pete Hegseth's Claims, Pentagon Embraces Crypto Asset

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Understanding Elon Musk's Involvement with DOGE, According to Pete Hegseth's Claims, Pentagon Embraces Crypto Asset

Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, announced that the Pentagon would welcome Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to address redundancies and waste within the Department of Defense, a decision met with controversy as questions swirled about the capabilities and restrictions of Musk's powerful agency.

Timeline

• February 11: Hegseth revealed his intent to harness DOGE's keen eye to discover inefficiencies in the Department of Defense, ensuring it would not hinder operational or tactical capabilities ( uncertain targets and sizes of potential cuts, as party members have historically been reluctant to trim defense spending).
• February 8: U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer blocked DOGE's access to Treasury payments, citing hacking risk; he ordered those prohibited from accessing Treasury systems to destroy data downloaded since January 20.
• February 7: 19 Democratic state attorneys-general sued Trump and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin for granting DOGE access to payment systems, alleging violations of laws, endangerment of personal information, and potential for unconstitutional budget cuts approved by Congress.
• 3:13 p.m. EST, February 7: DOGE staffer Marko Elez, who resigned following controversial remarks, resumed work for the agency after Musk posted on X and counseled users on forgiveness.
• 2:41 p.m. EST, February 7: Bloomberg reported 19-year-old DOGE agent Edward Coristine was dismissed from a previous internship for leaking sensitive company information to competitors.
• 11:26 a.m. EST, February 7: Senator Bob Corker commented on DOGE's impact on public opinion, defending Elez and acknowledging some problematic social media posts.
• 9:14 a.m. EST, February 7: Musk conducted a poll on X to gauge user opinions on whether to reinstate Elez, with 80% favoring his return.
• 8:09 p.m. EST, February 6: Representative Val Hoyle, a Democratic member of the DOGE panel, resigned, citing concerns over DOGE's influence and unelected billionaire Elon Musk's operations.
• 2 p.m. EST, February 6: Treasury Secretary Mnuchin clarified that DOGE was not tampering with government payment systems and rather conducting an operational review.
• February 6: DOGE staffers used AI through Microsoft's Azure service to analyze Education Department data, searching for ways to make savings across departments (no evidence of misappropriation or inappropriate use).
• February 6: Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly allowed Tom Krause and Marko Elez, two Musk associates, to access Treasury Department data with restricted, read-only access (pending further court judgment concerning the lawsuit).
• 8:40 a.m. EST, February 6: DOGE staff had access to sensitive data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), including employee addresses, demographics, and Social Security numbers (no evidence of data misuse).
• February 5: Justice Department lawyers consented to a recommendation limiting DOGE's access to the critical Treasury payment system, authorizing only two Musk associates with read-only access.
• February 5: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a statement supporting collaboration with DOGE and their approach to identifying and improving efficiency across departments.
• 12:01 p.m. EST, February 5: Musk shared stories on X about DOGE's discovery of fraud and waste in government agencies.
• 11 a.m. EST, February 5: DOGE team members visited the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to investigate fraud and waste within the system (DOGE representatives had access to payment and contracting systems).
• 5:40 p.m. EST, February 4: The Treasury Department committed to safeguarding payment system data and the robustness of its security measures, ensuring Musk's employee, Tom Krause, had read-only access to coded payment system data for review.
• 4 p.m. EST, February 4: Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden requested an investigation into Bessent's decision to grant DOGE access to sensitive government payment systems.
• 3:45 p.m. EST, February 3: Senate Democrats held a news conference, expressing concerns about Musk's influence on the federal government and potential violations of privacy and national security.
• February 3: Unions and nonprofits filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department to limit DOGE's access to the department's sensitive financial data.
• February 1: Associated Press and The New York Times reported Bessent granted DOGE access to sensitive Treasury data, providing Musk with a tool to curb government spending.

What Is DOGE?

Musk announced the concept of DOGE in September, seeking to eliminate wasteful expenditures and excessive regulations within the federal government upon Trump's election. Trump appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the agency, directing them to modernize IT, minimize redundancies, and audit existing programs for efficiency. DOGE was officially established via an executive order on Trump's first day in office, evolving an existing entity, the U.S. Digital Service, into the U.S. DOGE Service. While not a new federal agency or department, DOGE employs temporary workers designated as "special government employees," governing their roles with rules and guidelines less restrictive than those for federal employees.

What Authority Does DOGE Have?

Although the executive order establishing DOGE does not specify its authority or mandate, the agency has been gaining access to sensitive data and information upon its request. Critics argue that the role of DOGE has been intentionally vague, leaving room for misinterpretation and potential abuses of power.

Does Elon Musk Work for the Government?

Elon Musk functions as a "special government employee." The Justice Department defines this role as a person expected to work for the government for up to 130 days, barred from participating in decisions with potential conflicts of interest or engaging in political activities while on duty. The status affords Musk most federal employee rules and guidelines, yet is subject to fewer restrictions, given the temporary nature of his assignment. Musk's role is not compensated financially.

Who Works for DOGE?

DOGE's workforce has been a subject of contention since its creation. Numerous anonymous sources claim that engineering projects are being conducted by six young engineers with ties to Musk and Peter Thiel. However, there is a lack of concrete information regarding the composition of the specific DOGE workforce.

What Departments Is DOGE Working In?

DOGE has primarily focused its efforts on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which Musk has accused of being "incredibly politically partisan" and a "radical-left political psy-op." Critics claim that DOGE's disruptions to USAID operations may be unlawful and justify investigations by ethics watchdogs and unions.

What Are Democrats Doing to Stop DOGE?

Democrats have attempted to secure more information on DOGE's activities by requesting a review from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and unions suing the Treasury Department in an effort to limit DOGE's sensitive data access. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray, have expressed concern about Musk's influence on federal government operations, comparing it to a "hostile takeover."

Sources

1. https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/07/politics/elon-musk-government-efficiency-doge-employee/index.html
2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/09/elon-musk-doje-treasury-protections/
3. https://www.msnbc.com/meet-the-press/watch/elon-musks-efforts-to-reduce-government-waste-set-off-alarm-bells-1604676142260
4. https://www.axios.com/elon-musk-government-efficiency-doge-treasury-spending-a5de1dd4-35e6-4dd1-8c98-3ad818b4c889.html
5. https://www.npr.org/2022/02/05/1082259036/elon-musks-team-is-analyzing-government-spending-and-doesnt-seem-to-be-stopping

Enrichment Data

1. DOGE's primary goals have been found in Trump's campaign promises, which focused on reducing federal spending, slashing wasteful government expenditures, and implementing cost-cutting reforms across various agencies.
2. To achieve these objectives, DOGE has sought to modernize federal IT systems to optimize their efficiency and productivity for the best possible user experience.
3. DOGE has also targeted specific agencies and programs with questionable expenditures, including USAID (claiming that it is politically partisan), foreign assistance programs, and any form of government spending that DOGE deems unnecessary or wasteful.
4. DOGE has hired young engineering personnel to perform analysis and uncover redundancies and inefficiencies in government operations, ensuring that these individuals are either affiliated with Musk's other companies or favourable toward his policies and hold beliefs that align with his plan for reducing government waste.
5. According to experts, DOGE's practices may backfire and lead to long-term consequences by disrupting ongoing projects, fostering a culture of mistrust among federal employees, and potentially worsening the already challenging environment for recruiting and retaining talent in the government sector.
6. DOGE's focus on DEI programs, foreign aid, and political ideologies reflects its commitment to adhering to Trump's "America First" agenda, promoting conservative ideals, and reducing the role of government in certain aspects of society.
7. DOGE's goal is to refocus federal resources on areas deemed vital to strengthening American infrastructure and enhancing national security, while continuing to maintain a strong defense presence.
8. The lack of transparency regarding DOGE's hiring practices and daily activities has triggered concerns within the federal government and prompted calls for investigations from ethics watchdogs and civil liberties groups.
9. According to some critics, DOGE's mission shares similarities with previous administrations' attempts to restructure the federal government and reduce "big government" influence, but its unique approach to recruiting and empowering young personnel has proven to be controversial.
10. Other jurisdictions have pursued similar endeavors to modernize and streamline public sector operations, such as the UK's "GOV.UK" website, which combined various government websites to create a centralized hub for public services, or the U.S's U.S. Digital Service (which DOGE was modeled after).
11. The aforementioned cases, however, have maintained a focus on embodying the spirit of collaboration and building upon existing expertise within the public sector, rather than injecting a spirit of upheaval and partisanship.
12. The problematic aspects of DOGE's actions may reflect the challenges of integrating innovative technology and alternative perspectives on governance into the conventional bureaucratic frameworks of a large and complex organization such as the U.S. federal government.
13. Proponents argue that despite the controversies, DOGE has led to tangible results by identifying potential areas of savings, modernizing IT systems, and fostering more accountable and efficient government operations.
14. Critics believe that the negative consequences outweigh the positive ones, causing damage to the public's trust in government and jeopardizing the careers of public servants.
15. Ultimately, DOGE represents a fascinating case study in the tensions between innovation, industry disruption, and the time-honored traditions of adhering to the constitutional principles that underpin the U.S. federal government.

The Pentagon welcomes Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to address potential redundancies and waste within their department, aiming to ensure operational efficiency without jeopardizing capabilities.

Despite controversy surrounding the capabilities and restrictions of DOGE, Elon Musk's special government employee role within the agency is defined by the Justice Department, limiting his financial compensation and involvement in political activities.

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